The  battle  rain 
Conf  Pam  #814 


From  th€  SonUhern  Literary  Messengen^fav  Junt  1862. 


CC 


THE  EATTLE   HAWfBOW.* 


n    •       V,    BY   JOHN   B.    THOMPSON. 

The  warm  weary  day  was  departing — tlie  smile 
Of  the  sunset  gave  token  the  tempest  had  ceased, 

And  the  li^htnin'r  yet  fitfully  gleamed  for  awhile 
On  the  cloud  that  sank  sullen  and  dark  in  the  east. 

There  our  army,  awaiting  the  terrible  fight 

Of  the  morrow,  lay  hopeful  ami  watchful  and  still ; 

Where  their  tents  all  the  region  had  sprinkled  with  white 
From  river  to  river,  o'er  meadow  and  hill. 

While  above  them  the  fierce  cannonade  of  the  sky 

Blazed  and  burst  from  the  vapours  that  mnffletl  the  sun, 

Tlieir  "counterfeit  clamours"'  gave  forth  no  reply  ; 
And  slept,  till  the  battle,  the  charge  in  each  gun. 

Whenlo!  on  the  cloud,  a  miracuVous  thing! 

Broke  in  beauty  tile  ramljow  our  host  to  enfold; 
The  centre  o'erspread  by  its  arcii,  and  each  wing 

Sufiused  with  its  azure  and  crimson  and  gold. 

Blest  omen  of  victory,  symbol  divine 

Of  peace  after  tumtilt.  repose  after  pain, 
How  sweet,  and  how  glowing  with  promise  the  sign 

To  eyes  that  should  never  behold  it  again  ! 

For  the  fierce  flame  of  war  on  the  morrow  flashed  out, 
And  its  thunder  peals  filled  all  the  tremulous  air: 

Over  slippery  entrenchment  and  reddened  redoubt 
R/ng  the  wild  cheer  of  triumph,  the  cry  of  despair. 

Then  a  long  week  cir  glorV  and  agotiy  came—  ' 
Of  mute  supplication  and  year'ning  and  dread  : 

When  day  unto  day  gave  the  record  of  fame, 
And  night  unto  night  gave  the  list  of  its  dead. 

We  had  triumphed — the  foe  had  fled  back  to  his  ships — ■ 
His  standards  in  rags  and  his  legions  a  wreck — 

But  alas  !  the  stark  faces  and  colourless  lips 

Of  our  loved  ones  gave  triumph's  rejoicings  a  check. 

Not  yet,  oh  not  yet,  as  a  sign  of  release, 

Had  the  Lord  set  in  mercy  his  bow  in  the  cloud. 

Not  yet  had  the  Comforter  whispered  of  peace 

To  the  hearts  that  around  us  lay  bleeding  and  bowed. 

But  the  promise  was  given — the  beautiful  arc, 

With  its  brilliant  confusion  of  colours,  that  spanned 

The  sky  on  that  exquisite  eve,  was  the  mark 
Of  the  Infinite  Love  overarching  the  land: 


And  that  Love,  shining  richly  and  full  as  the  day, 

Though  the  tear-drops  that  moisten  each  martyr's  proud  pall. 

On  the  glooin  of  the  past  the  bright  bow  shall  display 
Of  Freedom,  Peace,  Victory  bent  over  all, 

Richmond,  20  Jolt,  1862. 


•  On  the  evening  which  preceded  the  commencement  of  the  recent  battles  before  Ijf  q 
Richmond,  a  magnificent  rainbow,  following  after  a  grand  thunder  storm, overspread  the  g((C' 
eastern  sky,  exactly  defining  the  position  of  the  Confederate  Army,  as  seen  from  the 
Capital. 


J 


)T  9dJ  3VB§ 


V. 


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Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


